Sam Berns

Sam Berns

at a 2013 Washington, DC venue via TEDx MidAtlantic
Born Sampson Gordon Berns
October 23, 1996
Providence, Rhode Island
Died January 10, 2014(2014-01-10) (aged 17)
Foxborough, Massachusetts, U.S.
Cause of death Progeria
Nationality American
Education Foxborough High School
Known for HBO documentary on progeria, spreading progeria awareness
Parent(s) Scott Berns
Leslie Gordon

Sampson Gordon "Sam" Berns (October 23, 1996 – January 10, 2014) was an American teen who had progeria and helped raise awareness about the disease.[1][2] He was the subject of the HBO documentary Life According to Sam, which was first screened in January 2013. He died one year later,[1][3] after appearing in a TEDx Talks video titled "My philosophy for a happy life."[4]

Progeria Research Foundation

His parents, Scott Berns and Leslie Gordon, both pediatricians, received their son's diagnosis when he was less than two years of age.[5] Roughly a year later, they established the Progeria Research Foundation[6] in an effort to increase awareness of the condition, to promote research into the underlying causes of and possible treatments for the disease, and to offer resources for the support of sufferers and their families.[1][7][8]

Scott Berns and Leslie Gordon, the parents of Sam, at the Peabody Award ceremony.

Honors

Boston Bruins

On November 9, 2013, the Boston Bruins welcomed Berns to drop the ceremonial first puck for a game against the Toronto Maple Leafs. He helped host Progeria Awareness Night at the TD Garden in Boston, dropping the ceremonial puck, serving as Assistant Equipment Manager for the team, and watching their warmups from the team's bench. Berns and Zdeno Chára, the Bruins captain, had been strong friends since 2006, when Berns attended a Bruins game and met Chára afterwards. Chára had scored in that game and Berns blurted out "You're the hero!". Chára responded: "No, no, you're my hero, our hero."[9][10]

Before the puck dropped on Tuesday, January 14, 2014, the Bruins honored Berns with a moment of silence and a video tribute.[11]

New England Patriots

The plan was that Berns was going to be an honorary captain when the New England Patriots hosted the Indianapolis Colts in a divisional playoff game in January 2014.[12][13]

Patriots Chairman and CEO Robert Kraft issued a statement on the news of the passing of Berns.[14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Fox, Margalit (January 13, 2014). "Sam Berns, 17, Public Face of a Rare Illness, Is Dead". The New York Times. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  2. ↑ "The Short, Remarkable Life of Sam Berns Turned Spotlight on Progeria". news.nationalgeographic.com. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  3. ↑ "Sam Berns, Star of Life According to Sam, Dies at Age 17 – Regina Weinreich". The Huffington Post. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  4. ↑ Sam Berns (December 13, 2013). "My philosophy for a happy life". YouTube. TEDx Talks. Retrieved November 2, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Progeria Research Foundation - Our Story". Progeria Research Foundation. Progeria Research Foundation. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  6. ↑ "Progeria Research Foundation - Quick Facts". Progeria Research Foundation. Progeria Research Foundation. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  7. ↑ Berman, Michele R. (October 16, 2013). "Life According To Sam Berns". MedPage Today. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  8. ↑ Titunik, Vera (October 2, 2012). "Revisiting Sam Berns". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved January 14, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Sam Berns, public face of progeria, to be honored by Bruins". Sporting News. 14 Jan 2014. Retrieved 25 Nov 2014.
  10. ↑ "Remembering Sam- Boston Bruins". 14 Jan 2014. Retrieved 25 Nov 2014.
  11. ↑ "Remembering Sam". nhl.com.
  12. ↑ Steve Buckley. "Robert Kraft: I fell in love with Sam Berns". bostonherald.com.
  13. ↑ "New England Patriots fans dedicate win to teen, Sam Berns, who died of rare aging disease - Daily Mail Online". Mail Online.
  14. ↑ "Statement from Robert Kraft on the passing of Sam Berns". New England Patriots.

External links

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